Here are four federal updates affecting dentistry since Dec. 4:
1. The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act, which aims to improve healthcare workforces and access to care, was passed in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2. The Supreme Court on Dec. 11 threw out three cases challenging the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates for federal employees and military members, preventing lower court rulings from establishing a precedent for future mandates.
3. The Biden administration is ramping up efforts to stop what it calls anticompetitive practices by healthcare entities.
4. President Joe Biden is preparing a package of second-term healthcare measures after contenders for the Republican presidential nomination suggested they plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.